“Who, indeed, has hijacked more than England has, for example, or is more skilled in the uses of terror than my own unhappy country? Yes, I know: nevertheless children, what goes around comes around, what you send out comes back to you. A terrorist is called that only because he does not have the power of the State behind him indeed he has no state, which is why he is a terrorist”.
James Baldwin, “Just Above My Head”, 1979.
“The State, at bottom, and when the chips are down, rules by means of a terror made legal-that is how Franco ruled so long and is the undeniable truth concerning South Africa. No one called the late J. Edgar Hoover a terrorist, though that is precisely what he was: and if anyone wishes, now, in this context, to speak of “civilized” values or “democracy” or “morality”, you will pardon this poor nigger if he puts his hand before his mouth, and snickers-if he laughs at you. I have endured your morality for a very long time, am still crawling out of that dungheap: all that the slave can learn from his master is how to be a slave, and that is not morality”.
James Baldwin, “Just Above My Head”, 1979.
Watching “Freestyle 101: Hip Hop History” my conclusion is that this is no “101” history course. Newbies to Hip Hop may take it as more of a graduate course but sophisticated Hip Hoppers will be in Nirvana with a veritable cast of Hip Hop stars reminiscing about the early beginnings of Hip Hop seemingly in 1973 Bronx being an evolution and combination of graffiti artists, breakdancers, disc jockeys and MC’s. As one Hip Hopper said it was all a rebellion against disco. I recall wanting to rebel against disco when a very talented Rod Stewart exhibited in his Jeff Beck days years later goes disco glam and glittery and embarrassed rock n roll forever.
Freestyle Hip Hop consists of a beat and rhymes created off the top of “The Dome” (from the head) that are spontaneous and composed on the spot. Quickness of mind and confidence is entertaining but at times does it make sense or is it music of a desperate poet looking for a quick rhyme?
The predominant creative freestyle Hip Hop centres are Los Angeles and New York but this divide does not lead to a murderous rivalry like it did with rap.
Enjoy the parade of hip hop stars from the intellectually savvy and articulate like Open Eagle and Iron Soloman to the less intellectually gifted making comparisons of Hip Hop to gladiators at the ancient Colosseum in Greece. Wasn’t it Rome? Yes Shakespeare as opposed to Homer Simpson!
Learn about Hip Hop Freestyle Battles which has morphed in a professional league. Get a bunch of Hip Hoppers in a room and get them in short sessions to freestyle rap and “tear down” each other i.e. diss each other. It can be good money these Battles but care is needed should a freestyler become pigeonholed as a freestyle battler and are unable to graduate to recording albums as the technical and musical skills required in album production vastly differ from freestyle Hip Hopping. Haven’t we seen so many musicians evolve from one style to another with their fans having difficulty in accepting it such as Eric Clapton from the Yardbirds, to Cream and then on a more mellow solo career. Or Robert Plant from Led Zepplin to Plant and Alison Krauss.
At one point watching the doc I was making comparisons of freestyle Hip Hop to Shakespeare because both are frequently not understandable as they speak a different language than you and I.
So a Hip Hop ignoramus like me says you will enjoy!
“Freestyle 101: Hip Hop History” opens on digital platforms on October 24th.
Directed by Frank Meyer with sparse and flippant narration by Chuck D.
You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD1Mc84q-Qo
RKS 2023 Film Rating 87/100.
Is Mendoza a Malbec wine lake? So much of it coming from Mendoza in Argentina. This time we uncork a Paraje Altamira Malbec from Argentina and the label states “High Mountain Vines” but fails to advise what the altitude is. No altitude given on the Catena website either.
This purplish Malbec rested 6-8 months in 25-40% new French oak and the remainder in second and third use oak barrels. Alluvial soil with 80% sand, 10% clay and 10% silt.
Aroma: Red plum, black cherry and chocolate covered blueberries.
Palate: It is as if the wine is confident not trying to make any statement other than saying it is very good wine. Moderate tannins with a long finish. A nice little seam of cherry and rhubarb pie running through the wine.
Personality: My makers let the grapes and oak speak for themselves. Minimal human intervention and would you be dizzy if I told you the height my grapes were grown in? Well save yourself from vertigo because my altitude is bafflingly a secret!
Food Match: Turkish green beans and potatoes simmered in tomatoes, a glug of red wine, onions, garlic, cumin and cinnamon.
Cellarbility: Modest improvement through 2025.
Price: $22.95CDN.
RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 92/100. Zekun Shuai at jamessuckling.com 93.
(Catena Paraje Altamira 2021 High Mountain Vines Malbec, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Bodega y Viñedos Catena, Mendoza, Argentina, 750 mL, 13.5%).
Wine drinkers in Ontario aren’t exactly lining up to purchase Gewürztraminer. Sounds a bit exotic and the flavors and aromas aren’t exactly Chardonnay and Riesling the white wines Ontarians are “comfortable” with. Gewurtz as the monster under the bed? From mega winery Jackson-Triggs we unscrew a Niagara Gewurtz.
Aroma: More or less Gewurtz aromas of mango, peach, lychee and pineapple. What is monstrous about this?
Palate: This is a dry and full bodied Gewurtz. Pulsating peach and mango lead the march to Ontario Gewurtz excellence. Moderately long finish with discrete acidity.
Personality: I am Gewurtz without any inferiority to Alsatian or Okanagan Gewurtz. If you find me odd my condolences to you.
Cellarbility: Not much improvement can be expected in the cellar. Drink by end of 2024.
Food Match: Will pair with the usual suspects such as Thai seafood or chicken curries. Also consider Glazed Shiitakes with bok choy.
Price: $24.95 CDN.
RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 93/100.
(Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate 2020 Gewürztraminer, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Jackson-Triggs Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, 750 mL, 13.5%).
“Daniel’s Gotta Die” has a compelling storyline. Daniel (Joel David Moore) has just inherited billions from his dad Edward James Powell (Iggy Pop). He has a choice of sharing it with his family or taking the whole lot and walking away. If he decides to share the inheritance, which he does, well his dad’s will requires his siblings to spend a week-end with him at the family beach house in the Caymans. Dear old dad thinks rightly Daniel’s three siblings are no good scum. Daniel, like some idiot savant blind to the greed, selfishness and treachery of his siblings would rather share the inheritance and play board games at the beach house with them. The film could be a caper or a serious attempt at explaining the dysfunctionality of families as exaggerated as it may be. There is almost no comedy of any sort either dark or ribald and its stereotypical characters dilutes any seriousness or true comedy to the film.
A great start to the film with opening credits rolling like an Albert Broccoli production in an abstract 1960’s comedic fashion. Where are Doris Day and David Niven in “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies”? Then a strong but minor role by Iggy Pop. Man this is heading in the right direction!
The acting is strong throughout. A classy production but it’s obsession with stereotypes sabotages the film from being little more than mundane. Daniel is for the most part a twit, his brother Victor (Jason Jones), a Prince Randy Andy lookalike, a lost and incompetent drug addict, his sister Mia (Mary Lynn Rajskub) a cold ruthless capitalist and his other sister Jessica (Carly Chaikin) a social media darling. If they kill Daniel, which they set their actions toward they will inherit a fortune.
Will Daniel die? In a sudden and brief but chilling moment of the film one must ask is Daniel really any less scummy than his siblings? A very crispy conclusion left to your imagination.
This was Bob Saget’s last film and he plays with skill Lawrence who is Edward James Powell’s secretary. The film just can’t escape its boring stereotypes handcuffing the acting talents of the cast.
This Canadian film has a theatrical release in Canada on 27October2023. It will be screening at The Toronto After Dark Film Festival on 20October2023.
You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVoQv77ve-I&t=1s
Directed by Jeremy Lalonde.
RKS 2023 Film Rating 61/100.
“I think that everyone imagines that, when they go away, the scene they have left behind them alters, that their departure leaves a hole in their previous surroundings. The departure may leave a hole in some people’s lives, a wound which is invisible; but one’s surroundings take as little notice of one’s departure as the sea takes of the dead. The scene rolls on, the music keeps playing, no one misses a beat. Children continue, relentlessly to be conceived; ruthlessly, to be born; and are there when you return, staring at you with their all-seeing eyes-you have not returned; although they just got there, it is you who have arrived.”
James Baldwin, “Just Above My Head”, 1979.
“So then, for the first time, I wondered about love and wondered if I would find strength to give love, and to take it: to accept my nakedness as sacred, and to hold sacred the nakedness of another. For without love, pleasure’s inventions are soon exhausted. There must be a soul within the body you are holding, a soul which you are striving to meet, a soul which is striving to meet yours.”
James Baldwin, “Just Above My Head” James Baldwin, 1979.
John Chau was an American Christian zealot, most likely affected by the Messiah Complex. This 26 year old man in his twenties was, pardon the expression, “hellbent” on heading to the North Sentinel Island, an Indian possession, to bring the word of “his” saviour to the heathen and dangerous hunters and gatherers populating the island. Fueled by his evangelical beliefs and his student days at Oral Roberts University he plans and trains for his holy mission.
Through his parents, friends and missionary guidance agencies and armed with a waterproof Bible he lands on the island waving his Bible in the name of Jesus Christ and promptly has an arrow pierce his bible as a warning. He regrouped and heading back to the beach Chau was never seen again. But his trip journal and his diaries were open to the filmmakers.
John Chau was one of the thousands of Christian missionaries meeting their demise attempting to save the souls of the heathen and primitive full well knowing the Indian government prohibits any visits to the island. As one former missionary remarks the inhabitants of North Sentinel Island are no more primitive than those trying to save their souls. The Happy Christian brings deadly diseases and over the past century and some were kidnapped by missionaries so why would the Bible thumpers ever be permitted to destroy their society. Just look to the well meaning if not fanatical Christian army that imprisoned aboriginal children in residential schools in Canada tearing apart families and attempting to eradicate “primitive” aboriginal cultures. Yes who are the savages?
A story of zeal, stupidity, cultural and religious imperialism? Well back at Oral Roberts University they have a new martyr to champion to whip up the fervor of the next John Chau? Donations accepted!
Theatrical release in Canada will be October 20.
“The Mission” was directed by Amanda McBaine and Amanda McBaine .
RKS 2023 Film Rating: 90/100.
“Whoever is born in New York is ill-equipped to deal with any other city: all other cities seem at best, a mistake, and, at worst, a fraud. No other city is so spitefully incoherent. Whereas other cities flaunt their history-their presumed glory-in vividly placed monuments, squares, parks, plaques, and boulevards, such history as New York has been unable entirely to obliterate is to be found, mainly, in the backwaters of Wall Street, in the goat tracks of Old and West Broadway, in and around Washington Square, and, for the relentless searcher, in grimly inaccessible regions of the Bronx.”
James Baldwin, “Just Above My Head”, 1979
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